The NHL's Christmas break provided players a well-deserved rest, but the action before and after the holiday was nothing short of spectacular. The Colorado Avalanche continued their historic run, Sidney Crosby etched his name deeper into the record books and the Detroit Red Wings are making believers out of everyone as they sit atop the Atlantic Division.
The Week That Was
With the league approaching the midway point of the 2025-26 season, the Avalanche remain the story of the year. At 28-2-7, Colorado has an NHL-leading 63 points and has earned points in 27 of their last 28 games. Nathan MacKinnon became the first player to reach 30 goals this season, while Connor McDavid continues his pursuit of the Art Ross Trophy with an incredible 12-game point streak heading into the new year.
Meanwhile, the Winter Classic is set for Friday, January 2 in Miami, where the defending champion Florida Panthers will host the New York Rangers in the first outdoor NHL game ever played in the Sunshine State. Hockey in South Florida has never looked better.
Games of the Week
Game of the Week: Avalanche 6, Golden Knights 5 (SO) - Dec. 27
What. A. Game. Colorado rallied from two separate two-goal deficits to defeat Vegas in a shootout thriller in Sin City. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists, including the decisive shootout goal. Martin Necas scored twice in regulation and added the opening shootout tally, while Artturi Lehkonen tied the game 5-5 with just 1:57 remaining in the third. The victory extended Colorado's winning streak to seven games and improved their road record to 9-1-2 in their last 12 away from Ball Arena.
Penguins 7, Blackhawks 3 - Dec. 28
Justin Brazeau stole the show with his first career NHL hat trick, while Sidney Crosby added another assist to continue his historic season. Crosby recorded his 778th career road point, tying Gordie Howe for ninth place all-time. He also passed Adam Oates for the seventh-most primary assists in NHL history. Pittsburgh scored four first-period goals for just the third time on the road in the last 20 years.
Red Wings 4, Stars 3 (OT) - Dec. 23
Dylan Larkin capped off a thrilling pre-holiday game with his 11th career overtime goal, moving him within one of Sergei Fedorov's franchise record. Larkin scored twice, including the game-tying power-play goal with 4:03 remaining in regulation. Goaltender John Gibson made it eight straight wins, the longest streak by a Red Wings netminder since Chris Osgood in 2007.
Red Wings 3, Maple Leafs 2 (OT) - Dec. 28
In an Original Six showdown, Simon Edvinsson scored the overtime winner to help Detroit maintain first place in the Atlantic Division. It was the defenseman's second career overtime goal. Mason Appleton forced OT with a clutch goal in the closing minutes of the third period. The Red Wings have won four of their last five games and are making a serious push for their first playoff berth in nearly a decade.
Hot Streaks & Cold Spells
Teams on Fire
Colorado Avalanche - 7-Game Win Streak
The Avalanche are playing at a historic pace. At 28-2-7 with 63 points, they've registered points in 27 of their last 28 games (23-1-4). Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL with 31 goals and has been virtually unstoppable. Colorado also ended Minnesota's seven-game win streak with a dominant 5-1 victory on December 22. Their home record of 13-0-2 is one of the best in league history through 15 games.
Detroit Red Wings - 8-2-2 in Last 10
Detroit entered the Christmas break in first place in the Atlantic Division with 47 points (22-13-3). Under first-year head coach Todd McLellan, the Red Wings have transformed into legitimate contenders. Dylan Larkin leads with 20 goals and goaltender John Gibson has been sensational with an eight-game winning streak. The franchise is chasing its first playoff appearance since 2016.
Edmonton Oilers - 8-2-1 in Last 11
Connor McDavid's 12-game point streak (13 goals, 19 assists) has propelled Edmonton back into contention. Leon Draisaitl recorded a hat trick against Calgary on December 23, passing Glenn Anderson for third on the franchise's all-time goals list. McDavid leads the NHL in points with 68 (24 goals, 44 assists).
Teams Struggling
Winnipeg Jets - Fading Fast
After a scorching start to the season, the Jets have cooled considerably. Kyle Connor remains dangerous with 18 goals and the chemistry with Mark Scheifele continues, but Winnipeg has fallen in the standings and needs to rediscover their early-season form.
Vancouver Canucks - In Crisis
Vancouver's season continues to spiral. They're not scoring goals and allowing too many at the other end. The Canucks have one of the league's highest goals-against totals and are struggling to find any consistency.
Boston Bruins - Four-Game Skid (0-3-1)
The Bruins hit a rough patch heading into the break, losing four straight including a 6-2 loss to Montreal where they allowed four third-period goals. Boston needs to right the ship quickly in a competitive Atlantic Division.
Player Standouts
- Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers: Extended his point streak to 12 games (13G, 19A for 32 points during streak). Leads the NHL with 68 points. His five-assist game against Calgary on Dec. 23 was his 12th career five-point performance.
- Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche: Became the first player to reach 30 goals this season. Has 15 points (8G, 7A) during an eight-game point streak. Leading the league in goals (31) and sits second in total points.
- Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins: Passed Mario Lemieux on Dec. 21 to become the Penguins' all-time leading scorer with 1,724+ points. Tied Gordie Howe for ninth in career road points (778). Also passed Adam Oates for seventh in primary assists.
- Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings: Two-goal performance including the OT winner against Dallas to send Detroit into the break in first place. Now has 20 goals and 11 career overtime tallies, one shy of the franchise record.
- Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning: Scored twice against Montreal on Dec. 28, helping Tampa win their fourth straight. Kucherov now has 120 points in 85 games played in calendar year 2025 (regular season and playoffs combined).
Conference Standings
Top 5 in Each Conference (as of December 29, 2025)
Eastern Conference
- 1. Detroit Red Wings (23-14-3, 49 pts, W4)
- 2. Carolina Hurricanes (22-11-3, 47 pts, L3)
- 3. Tampa Bay Lightning (22-13-3, 47 pts, W4)
- 4. Montreal Canadiens (20-15-4, 44 pts, L1)
- 5. Florida Panthers (21-15-2, 44 pts, W5)
Western Conference
- 1. Colorado Avalanche (28-2-7, 63 pts, W7)
- 2. Dallas Stars (25-7-5, 55 pts, L2)
- 3. Minnesota Wild (24-10-6, 54 pts, L1)
- 4. Vegas Golden Knights (17-8-10, 44 pts, L4)
- 5. Edmonton Oilers (20-14-6, 46 pts, L1)
Must-Watch Games This Week
- 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic: Rangers at Panthers - Friday, January 2
History will be made in Miami. The first outdoor NHL game ever in Florida will take place at loanDepot park as the Panthers host the Rangers. Puck drops at 8 PM ET on TNT/truTV/HBO Max. - Jets at Red Wings - Wednesday, December 31 (New Year's Eve)
Ring in the New Year with a Central-Atlantic showdown. Detroit sits atop the Atlantic Division while Winnipeg looks to snap out of its slump. 7 PM ET on Sportsnet. - Oilers at Jets - Monday, December 29 (Prime Monday Night Hockey)
Connor McDavid's 12-game point streak faces a Jets team looking to bounce back. 7:30 PM ET on Prime Video.
Final Thoughts
As 2025 comes to a close, the NHL landscape is taking shape. The Avalanche are running away with the league standings, Sidney Crosby continues to cement his legacy among the all-time greats and the Detroit Red Wings are proving that their rebuild is complete. With the Winter Classic bringing outdoor hockey to South Florida for the first time ever, there's never been a better time to be a hockey fan.
The second half of the season promises even more drama as teams jockey for playoff positioning and superstars chase hardware. Will Colorado's historic pace continue? Can Detroit break their playoff drought? Will McDavid run away with another Art Ross? Stay tuned to Nexairi Sports for all your NHL coverage as we skate into 2026.
